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PhD Position in Computational Generation of Expressive Voice

Announcement: The Research Group on Media Technologies (GTM, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4y7I7WMGOg) at La Salle Campus Barcelona, Universitat Ramon Llull, offers a three-year PhD position on the computational production of expressive voice. The thesis will be developed within the national research project GENIOVOX (GENeración computacIOnal de VOz eXpresiva), TEC2016-81107-P).

Description of work: The physics of voice is tremendously intricate involving complex interactions between laminar and turbulent airflow; vibrating, deforming, colliding elastic solids; and sound waves resonating in a contorting duct.Numerical methods, and in particular the finite element method, have allowed one to simulate with precision many of these phenomena, and to numerically produce some voice sounds. Yet the generated voice is very neutral, lacking of expressivity. The candidate is expected to perform research linking voice expressivity effects, extractedfrom signal processing techniques, with physical and geometric data of parametric and computational models of the glottal aerodynamics, vocal folds self-oscillations and vocal tract shape. The final goal is to improve the quality of the numerical production of voice.

Candidate background: The candidate should preferably have a BSc degree in mechanical or telecommunications engineering, mathematics, physics, or computer science, and a MSc. in acoustics. Strong motivation, outstanding curriculum vitae, team working, good programming skills and fluent spoken and written English will be highly appreciated.

Application form: The candidate should send an e-mail in English to oguasch@salle.url.eduwith a brief description of the applicant particular merits to get the position,a CVand at least one recommendation letter.

Note:The PhD candidate must be a European Community citizen and is expected to start as soon as possible.